If you’ve never been
concerned about trying to get pregnant, chances are that you do not know that red,
pink or brown in the cervical mucus is a sign of fertility: When a new egg is
released by the ovary, the process can cause a minute amount of blood leakage
that makes its way to the cervix, and then gets picked up by expelled cervical
mucus.

This is called mid-cycle
spotting, and women who are trying to get pregnant, who have studied up on the
subject, welcome this fertility sign.

Two other causes for cervical
mucus that has red, pink or brown in it is leftover, residual blood from your
last period; and when a fertilized egg implants itself into the uterus – you
are pregnant, and with this implantation spotting, the blood can end up in the
cervical mucus.

But can other things explain when cervical mucus has a
reddish, pink or brownish tinge?

This article is about blood
in the cervical mucus, rather than general spotting or bleeding in between
periods. Spotting or bleeding in between periods doesn’t necessarily occur with
the expulsion of cervical mucus.

For example, a symptom of
uterine cancer is bleeding in between periods, but this blood can find its way
through the cervix and onto toilet tissue in the absence of cervical mucus.

Certain forms of exercise can
cause anal or vaginal fissures that release minute amounts of blood, that can
find its way to toilet paper after you’ve wiped yourself.

This appears as tiny bright
red specks or red hairline streaks (the brightness indicates it’s fresh), and
there may not even be any sign of cervical mucus with it.

Blood in between
periods can also signal a problem with the gastrointestinal tract.

But what about blood specifically in the cervical
mucus, after your period has ended? Can anything else cause it besides the already-mentioned?

Dr. O’Connor:Absolutely! This can be caused by
hormonal fluctuations (i.e., from stress and weight changes), breakthrough bleeding if on hormonal birth
control, any change in medications or over the counter supplements. This can
also be an early sign of cervical infections or vaginal infections, or an early
sign of cervical or uterine polyps, fibroids, cancer, etc.

Any spotting or pinkish/brownish tinge in the cervical
mucus that is new or a change from what has been previously noted is worth
discussing with a gynecologist to determine if it is normal or may need
additional attention.

Concerning blood specifically coming out with the
cervical mucus, after a period has ended (Day 8-12 or 13), can this be caused
by factors other than: a new egg released; implantation of fertilized egg; and
residual blood from the ended period?

Residual menstrual blood would be seen just after a
period ends. An implantation bleed would cause bleeding just before or when the
next cycle would be due. Mid-cycle would be the timing for ovulation related
spotting.

But again, especially if there is no predictable
pattern or a change from what is normally noticed, there are many other
potential causes.

Regarding blood in the CM that's from, specifically, a
newly released egg...can this blood appear in the CM two or three days in a
row, or is it almost always a one-day thing?

Blood seen from ovulation is rare, usually a very
small amount and for a very short amount of time. For women who notice this
phenomenon, the bleeding around ovulation or mid-cycle is thought to be due to
the fall in estrogen levels that occurs just before ovulation.

This would be around Day 12 or 13 in a woman who has
perfect 28 day cycles. Once ovulation occurs, the estrogen and progesterone
levels rise again quickly to stabilize the endometrium and ready it for a
possible fertilized egg.

What if a woman has ovulation spotting (blood in
cervical mucus) on Day 12, can subsequent high levels of stress trip up the
cycle such that, instead of her period beginning 14 days later, it begins much
later (a very late period caused by stress)?

Menstruation always occurs
14 days after ovulation. That is actually the only predictable part of a
cycle.

Note: Some women, however, report that their menstruation occurs more than 14 days after ovulation.

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